Published: Thursday, Oct. 01, 2009

Updated: Thursday, Oct. 01, 2009

Locals 50/50 in stimulus bidding

MANATEE — Local contractors continue to bat around .500 in competing for stimulus-funded transportation projects in Manatee County, according to preliminary bid results Wednesday.

A local company submitted the lowest bid on three of the five local stimulus projects in the second round of bidding, Florida Department of Transportation records show. The two other low bidders were from Polk County and Georgia.

In the first round of projects — four sidewalk construction jobs in Bradenton and Holmes Beach — FDOT awarded two to local companies and the other two to the Polk County firm.

Manatee officials had urged FDOT to give preference to local firms in awarding projects funded by the federal stimulus, designed to boost the national economy by creating jobs. But FDOT officials said they have no choice but to award the projects to the lowest bidder, as long as the bid meets all requirements.

In Wednesday’s bidding:

n Superior Asphalt Inc. of Bradenton was the lowest bidder to resurface two roads in Anna Maria: Pine Avenue between Gulf Drive and Bay Boulevard, and Gulf Drive between Pine and Willow avenues. It bid $192,661 for the work.

n McLeod Land Services Inc., based in Sarasota, bid $198,409 to repave Gulf Drive South between Fifth Street South and Cortez Road in Bradenton Beach. The project also includes installing a trolley stop shelter, sidewalks, curbs and gutters; making drainage improvements; and landscaping.

n A Tampa company, Traffic Control Products of Florida Inc., was the lowest bidder to replace traffic signals and install sidewalks at the intersection of Gulf Drive and East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach. The company said it can do the work for $17,210.

n L-J Construction Co. of Central Florida, based in Polk City, submitted the lowest bid of $25,712 to build sidewalks along Gulf Front Park in Anna Maria.

n Valdez, Frankie Co. Inc., a contractor from Ty Ty, Ga., was the lowest bidder for building sidewalks, replacing signs and installing sod along North Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria. It bid $41.370.

FDOT said it expects to award those projects in mid- to late October.

Duane Marsteller, transportation/growth and development reporter, can be reached at 745-7080, ext. 2630.